When things hit the fan, social media is your opportunity to be awesome.

Social media is your front line. Consumers only care about what you do, not your logo, not your branding. Marketing is a verb, it's what your company does every day, everything you do.

Mission statements don't matter. People spread awesome (content)! It's only how it is shared that has changed.

Social media has changed how things are changed, most things are now shared through Facebook.

Even if you hate Facebook or Twitter, understand it because that's where your customers are - don't ignore it.

QR Codes are great for example but use them accordingly - think before you do - use them properly.

Not everyone should use social media. If your company sucks, it will suck harder socially. If you hate people, social might not be the route to go.

Inversely, every one is on social. The niche: human.

Don't try to be everywhere, pick one platform and grow it.

Valerie M. Russo is a Senior Social Media Strategist at IIR USA with a technology, anthropology, marketing and publishing business acumen. She will be attending Prepaid Expo USA 2012and covering the event live via Twitter and the Prepaid Expo Blog. She is a published poet and also maintains a literary blog. She may be reached atvrusso@iirusa.com. Follow her @Literanista.

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